mortars and amalgamated with the gold in the ore. The stamps were periodically stopped and the amalgam was retrieved and then sold to banks or the mint.; The interior of a stamp mill, possibly the Iron City Stamp Mill in Blackhawk, Colorado, shows the complex design of the mills, designed to crush the ores found in local mines to extract gold from them. Each "stamp" weighed between 500 and 700 pounds. Once crushed, the ore was fed into iron mortars, where a stream of water carried it to a sheet-iron screen. The ore was forced through the screen and onto sloping, mercury-coated copper plates. Mercury was also fed into the

Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.

Reproduction Available for Purchase

Yes (digital reproduction)

Related Material

Image File: ZZR700125178

Notes

coll." written on paper stuck to back of print; image is copy of earlier photograph taken by unknown photographer, possibly A.M. Thomas.; Title from inventory prepared by Western History Department, Denver Public Library; words "A stamp mill interior; believed to be Iron City Stamp Mill, Black Hawk. Shows 3, ten-stamp batteries, each having 2 5 stamp sections. Foreground - Showing concentrating tables to treat the ground over from the stamps. Known locally as Gilpin County Bumping Tables, they were a product of the MacFarland foundries in Central City and Black Hawk (photo source unknown) ca. 1890's Kemp ; R7001251785

Filename

00125178.tif

We Invite Your Comments

See an error or omission? Spot a person or place that's unidentified? Send an email to whgclerks using the domain denverlibrary.org. Be sure to include as much detail as possible, including the source of your information so we can respond properly. Thanks!